2017 NFL Mock Draft Central

The path to the draft takes many twists and turns in the three-month lead-up to the actual event, many shaped by the results from all-star showcase games, the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency, and pro days. We track them all here in Mock Draft Central, with our analyst projections of how the first round could unfold.

I want to give them Leonard Fournette, but I think Kyle Shanahan got spoiled in Atlanta with middle-round backs like Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Pair Adams with Eric Reid, and you'll have one of the best safety tandems in football

Cleveland trades up to get its QB. Trubisky is the QB prospect most ready to play. I would prefer not to play him this year because I think it will take him a while to adjust, but at the end of the day, he'd come in and compete for the starting job.

I want to give them Patrick Mahomes, but the roster is playoff-ready. Humphrey has everything you want in a CB except for one thing -- he struggles finding the ball in the air. If he can learn to do that one thing, he's a Pro Bowl corner.

They need immediate help off the edge. McKinley has a great motor. He has some shoulder issues. If their doctors don't think he'll be ready to go full speed on Day One, they can't pull the trigger here.

I told you I wanted to get Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer together with Patrick Mahomes. We do that here. They move up from No. 45 to No. 32 and it only cost them a third-round pick. They get their QB of the future.

New GM Chris Ballard continues to rebuild the offensive line in front of Andrew Luck. Dawkins was a great tackle at Temple and could start there at the next level, but he'll be a special guard in the NFL.

I don't expect Mahomes to still be waiting around at this pick, as someone could trade ahead of Houston to secure his services. But the Texans wouldn't mind seeing this strong-armed passer from Texas Tech here. If Mahomes is gone, N.C. State safety Josh Jones would be a great fit.